Author Topic: Ecowitt WS69  (Read 915 times)

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Offline Paulcheffus

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Ecowitt WS69
« on: December 18, 2024, 04:32:17 PM »
Hi

Is there an inherent issue with the Ecowitt WS69 outdoor sensor?

I bought my first Ecowitt Weather station in February 2023 (WS2910 with WS69). This worked flawlessly until April 2024 when it started loosing the connection between the sensor and the console. As it was out of warranty I bought a replacement WS69 in May 2024 which has again worked flawlessly until 14/12/2024 when it has started doing the same thing and not connecting to the console. So I’ve only had around seven months this time.

I will be returning this one under warranty but is this likely to happen yet again or have I just been unlucky.

Cheers

Paul

Offline Rocketman

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2024, 05:35:39 PM »
Are you running the latest firmware for the console ?
Check the frequencies your equipment works on - there could be external devices at play
« Last Edit: December 18, 2024, 06:28:56 PM by Rocketman »
HP2550,FW 2.0.1, WS80 FW1.2.9, WH57 , WH40 , WH51, GW1100 FW2.3.4 , WN90LP FW1.4.7 wirelessly to Hongyuv HY Display, INKBIRD iAMQ-128W V1.1, WH55 x 2 , WN34D

Offline R.Sidetrack

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2024, 06:35:17 PM »
Before you conclude that the WS69 has an inherent problem, please tell us about the brand/model of AA batteries that you have in there, and when you last changed the batteries or checked the battery voltage.

Also how far apart is the outdoor unit from the indoor console, and what type of building walls are between the two units? (brick, metal siding, vinyl siding etc). What type of roof covering does the structure have?

And is it winter where you are located?
« Last Edit: December 18, 2024, 06:39:39 PM by R.Sidetrack »
Graham

--- Variety of Ecowitt devices; CumulusMX on Raspberry Pi4 ---

Offline Gyvate

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2024, 07:03:39 PM »
batteries are usually not the issue - especially not with a WS69 unless it is located somewhere where it doesn't have sufficient solar exposure. Otherwise the battery story is just a never dying myth.

The first thing to do in such a case is to go through the different resets (software/hardware).
In most of the cases this solves the observed issue.

https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#how_to_reset_an_outdoor_sensor_array

if there are obstacles between sensor array and console, bring the array close (~ 1m) to the console (for the tests with the reset)
WS2350 1.6.7, GW1000 1.7.7,WH2650 WiFi 1.7.7, GW1100 2.3.7, GW1200 1.3.5, GW2000 3.1.7, HP2551 2.0.1,5.1.8; HP3500 1.7.2,WS3800 1.3.5, WS3910 1.3.5, WN1910 1.2.4,WN1980 1.3.5;
Ecowitt WS90, WS85, WS80, WS68, WS69, WN30, WH31,WH31-EP, WH32,WH32-EP, WH32B/WN32P, WN34D,L,S,  WN35,WH40, WH41[PM2.5], WH45, WH46D, WH51, WH55, WH57 [Lightning], LDS01
 - Blake-Larsen Sun Recorder - RPi4/weewx 4.10.2/CumulusMX 4063/MeteobridgePro 6.1, Meteobridge RPi4B-2GB,MB VM
Barani Meteoshield Pro, MetSpecRad02, SMarTCELLino
weather landing page: http://meshka.eu
WIKI https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki

Offline Paulcheffus

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2024, 03:23:01 AM »
Hi

Thanks for the replies.

If the distance is an issue why has it worked for seven months and prior to that with the old array for fourteen months without a problem?

I have tried the reset on the underside and I have now covered the solar panel to do the hard reset.

When this happened in May replacing the sensor fixed the issue until now which is why I thought there may be an issue with the arrays.

The batteries for information are Energizer Ultimate Lithium and the first thing I did was replace them with brand new ones.

The console is running the lastest firmware 5.1.7.

The symptoms in full are that the indicator on the console will show the connection dropping to the point the sensor is disconnected and then over time will reconnect again. This can take  anything between a couple of minutes to half an hour. It has been up and down all night but at the moment has reconnected and has been connected for the last couple of hours. This is exactly what happened with the old sensor back in May.

Cheers

Paul

Offline Gyvate

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2024, 04:59:39 AM »
of course it could be sensor array ...
but it could also be EMI (electromagnetic interference) - and in the worst case the console could be defective ...
did you try to re-position the console ?
WS2350 1.6.7, GW1000 1.7.7,WH2650 WiFi 1.7.7, GW1100 2.3.7, GW1200 1.3.5, GW2000 3.1.7, HP2551 2.0.1,5.1.8; HP3500 1.7.2,WS3800 1.3.5, WS3910 1.3.5, WN1910 1.2.4,WN1980 1.3.5;
Ecowitt WS90, WS85, WS80, WS68, WS69, WN30, WH31,WH31-EP, WH32,WH32-EP, WH32B/WN32P, WN34D,L,S,  WN35,WH40, WH41[PM2.5], WH45, WH46D, WH51, WH55, WH57 [Lightning], LDS01
 - Blake-Larsen Sun Recorder - RPi4/weewx 4.10.2/CumulusMX 4063/MeteobridgePro 6.1, Meteobridge RPi4B-2GB,MB VM
Barani Meteoshield Pro, MetSpecRad02, SMarTCELLino
weather landing page: http://meshka.eu
WIKI https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki

Offline Paulcheffus

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2024, 07:42:26 AM »
Hi

I’m just waiting for the sensor to stop transmitting now I’ve covered the solar panel and taken the batteries out so I can do a hard reset.

Cheers

Paul

Offline SamiS

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2024, 10:33:17 AM »
.
The batteries for information are Energizer Ultimate Lithium and the first thing I did was replace them with brand new ones.

Most likely your issue is not battery related. But I have to say, that there seem to be surprisingly many faulty / empty batteries around nowdays in unopened packages that have a valid date in future. Energizer industrial AAA’s have been so problematic, that at work we started to use an old analogue battery tester to verify the batteries before install.

Offline Gyvate

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2024, 05:48:49 PM »
.
The batteries for information are Energizer Ultimate Lithium and the first thing I did was replace them with brand new ones.

Most likely your issue is not battery related. But I have to say, that there seem to be surprisingly many faulty / empty batteries around nowdays in unopened packages that have a valid date in future. Energizer industrial AAA’s have been so problematic, that at work we started to use an old analogue battery tester to verify the batteries before install.
regarding batteries - you don't replace the spare wheel when the tires need to be inflated \:D/
WS2350 1.6.7, GW1000 1.7.7,WH2650 WiFi 1.7.7, GW1100 2.3.7, GW1200 1.3.5, GW2000 3.1.7, HP2551 2.0.1,5.1.8; HP3500 1.7.2,WS3800 1.3.5, WS3910 1.3.5, WN1910 1.2.4,WN1980 1.3.5;
Ecowitt WS90, WS85, WS80, WS68, WS69, WN30, WH31,WH31-EP, WH32,WH32-EP, WH32B/WN32P, WN34D,L,S,  WN35,WH40, WH41[PM2.5], WH45, WH46D, WH51, WH55, WH57 [Lightning], LDS01
 - Blake-Larsen Sun Recorder - RPi4/weewx 4.10.2/CumulusMX 4063/MeteobridgePro 6.1, Meteobridge RPi4B-2GB,MB VM
Barani Meteoshield Pro, MetSpecRad02, SMarTCELLino
weather landing page: http://meshka.eu
WIKI https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki

Offline Paulcheffus

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2024, 03:09:08 PM »
Hi

An update on this.

It worked without issue for a week after I did the hard reset and then the reception became intermittent again.

I have now moved the console nearer to the sensor array so let’s see what happens now.

I’m still confused as to why it has worked for sometime without these issues as nothing in the house has changed.

Cheers

Paul

Offline Rocketman

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2024, 03:17:46 PM »
It might be interference from another house
HP2550,FW 2.0.1, WS80 FW1.2.9, WH57 , WH40 , WH51, GW1100 FW2.3.4 , WN90LP FW1.4.7 wirelessly to Hongyuv HY Display, INKBIRD iAMQ-128W V1.1, WH55 x 2 , WN34D

Offline Paulcheffus

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #11 on: December 29, 2024, 03:24:45 PM »
It might be interference from another house

Hi

Possibly and if that’s the case then there will be little I can do about it.

Cheers

Paul

Offline Rocketman

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #12 on: December 29, 2024, 03:58:59 PM »
Maybe relocate to a different area and see what happens
HP2550,FW 2.0.1, WS80 FW1.2.9, WH57 , WH40 , WH51, GW1100 FW2.3.4 , WN90LP FW1.4.7 wirelessly to Hongyuv HY Display, INKBIRD iAMQ-128W V1.1, WH55 x 2 , WN34D

Offline Paulcheffus

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2024, 05:25:00 PM »
Maybe relocate to a different area and see what happens

Hi

That’s exactly what I’ve done but it may take a while to see if it drops as it’s very intermittent.

Cheers

Paul

Offline Paulcheffus

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Re: Ecowitt WS69
« Reply #14 on: January 11, 2025, 11:57:28 AM »
Hi

It would appear that it is indeed distance related.

If I put it in the lounge which is 17m from the outdoor sensor through two brick walls it will work for periods of time until it suddenly drops the connection.

If I put it in the back of the house 12m from the outdoor sensor through one brick wall it seems to work without dropping.

I hope to get a GW3000 when they are available (I need the 868mhz version) and will put this in the back of the house so that the uploads to my website and the cloud do not suffer from the disconnections. It then won’t matter if the console loses the connection as it will only be for display in the lounge.

Thanks to all who helped with my enquiry.

Cheers

Paul